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Would these be the same intelligence statements which assured us that Benghazi was protest about a movie? Or would these be the ones that said Iraq was awash in WMDs? It seems that "intelligence" is only as reliable as what the official version, released for public consumption, has been editted into.

I'd agree with your last point. I'd also point out that Bush and Rumsfeld pushed the CIA to provide information that would support their stated policy. The information coming out of Benghazi was not only not used as justification for an attack, but was soon set straight after the investigation actually concluded. Until then, it was common sense to be suspicious of the video as a trigger for the attack, which had triggered violence at the exact same time across the Middle East. So you're actually criticizing the release of intelligence during the investigation, not the definitive intelligence.

In this scenario, there is nothing to suggest to me that anyone is looking to exploit information to go to war. Everyone in this crisis has been reluctant to do anything.

Some folks just can't put 2+2 together. Obama has been pushing for an attack on Syria. His plans prove incredibly unpopular. Then all of the intelligence from the Obama administration says that Assad used Sarin gas, the timing proving incredibly impeccable. Meanwhile the international community is undecided and inconclusive with their intelligence research.

They are not undecided, they have decided not to take any part in messing with Syria. The notable exceptions are, of course, Iran and Russia that do not want the U.S. to act - so, in effect, Obama is doing precisely what Iran and Russia want him to. Let's not forget France that wants to "help" so long as we pay them handsomely for that minimal effort.

“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world: the unreasonable one persists to adapt the world to himself.
Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.” ― George Bernard Shaw, Man and Superman

I'd agree with your last point. I'd also point out that Bush and Rumsfeld pushed the CIA to provide information that would support their stated policy. The information coming out of Benghazi was not only not used as justification for an attack, but was soon set straight after the investigation actually concluded. Until then, it was common sense to be suspicious of the video as a trigger for the attack, which had triggered violence at the exact same time across the Middle East. So you're actually criticizing the release of intelligence during the investigation, not the definitive intelligence.

In this scenario, there is nothing to suggest to me that anyone is looking to exploit information to go to war. Everyone in this crisis has been reluctant to do anything.

If you break then it you own it. Obama has not been reluctant to spout off about Assad crossing "red lines", or his supporting of the FSA, only to back up his bravado with actual deeds.

“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world: the unreasonable one persists to adapt the world to himself.
Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.” ― George Bernard Shaw, Man and Superman

The U.S. has been training the Rebels, and by extentions Al-Qaeda, for nearly 2 years.

Heya Reinoe. Moreover we have been sending them Soft Aid. Plus Clinton admitted at her Friends of Syria Meeting that we were helping them evade capture. Which means Sat tracking. So we have sent small arms. Plus the CIA was suppose to be funneling in the ManPads from Libya, while making sure they didn't fall in the hands of AQ.

It doesn't seem that long ago (although it's been nearly 2 years) that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights was pleading for the Security Council to refer Assad to the ICC for his crimes against humanity. The death toll was only 5000 then.

Now, the UN is saying it is the worst refugee crisis for 20 years, with numbers not seen since the 1994 genocide in Rwanda and over 110,000 dead.

Just shocking. Imagine what the numbers will be in another 2 years time. It's pretty hard to just sit back and know that is happening and there's not a thing you can do to stop it.

The opposition Free Syrian Army elected a new military command, replacing Colonel Riad al-Asaad with Brigadier General Salim Idris, Al Arabiya television reported early on Monday. Idris told Al Arabiya in a telephone interview that the new command was elected by hundreds of rebels.

The unified command includes many with ties to the Muslim Brotherhood and to Salafists, who follow a puritanical interpretation of Islam. It excludes the most senior officers who have defected from Assad’s military, according to Reuters.

The general, a former lecturer at Syria's main military college, took up his post in December. He said he travels to rebel-held areas in Syria frequently, and also stays in touch with his officers by Skype.

Idris said he has repeatedly offered the West guarantees that the weapons would only be given to vetted rebel units, and that they would be returned if and when Assad is toppled. He denied that the extremists are dominant among the rebel fighters. Western-backed rebels have not explained how they would prevent Islamic militant or al-Qaida-linked fighters from seizing such weapons by force.....snip~

It doesn't seem that long ago (although it's been nearly 2 years) that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights was pleading for the Security Council to refer Assad to the ICC for his crimes against humanity. The death toll was only 5000 then.

Now, the UN is saying it is the worst refugee crisis for 20 years, with numbers not seen since the 1994 genocide in Rwanda and over 110,000 dead.

Just shocking. Imagine what the numbers will be in another 2 years time. It's pretty hard to just sit back and know that is happening and there's not a thing you can do to stop it.

The U.S. refusing to act in the face of slaughter is nothing new. We have lots of practice. The Janjaweed terrorists taking over the Sudanese government. The Rwanda genocide. Libya, Iraq, and Egypt are both descending into chaos as religious extremists attempt to take over. Obama is silent on all fronts. It's hard to sit back? Please, if the defense contractors aren't interested in war then we do nothing. With that being said I give you John McCain...